The aim of this work was to measure the concentrations of heavy metals in house dust and soil samples as well as study the characteristics and distribution of heavy metal pollution in the surrounding area of coal-fired power plant in Guangdong Province. The risk assessment of heavy metals in dust was also carried out using US EPA Health Risk Assessment Model. The results revealed that the order of concentrations of metals was Zn>Mn>Pb>Cu>Cr>As>Cd>Hg. The heavy metal pollution levels of dust were relatively high

which were higher than those in soil to varying degrees. The pollution of Zn

Pb

Cd and Cu in dust was likely to be anthropogenic

mainly due to industrial and traffic sources. However

the pollution of As

Hg and Mn in dust was not obviously anthropogenic. Spatial distribution of heavy metal in dust was clearly affected by soot emissions of power plant. Nemerow Indexes were significantly correlated with local wind direction and frequency

decreased with incremental distance from the power plant. It is evident that the concentrations of Pb

Zn and Hg also decreased with incremental distance from the power plant. Potential health risk for children was significantly higher than for adults. The non-cancer risk of metals was Pb>Mn>Cr>As>Zn>Cu>Hg>Cd

while the carcinogen risk of metals was As>Cr>Pb>Cd. In particular

the non-cancer risk of Pb for children was high

which required more attention. The non-cancer risks of other metals for children were low. Noncancer risks for adults were ignorable. Carcinogen risks of metals were in an acceptable range

indicating no carcinogenic hazard to children and adults.